Records go as Woolkabin hits $11,200

While the cold, wintry sale day was in complete contrast to last year's warm spring day, the sale certainly wasn't, as it was even hotter and stronger than last year right to the very last ram.

With a reputation for producing, big-framed, heavy cutting, quality woolled Merino and Poll Merino sires, support and competition on the offering was stronger than ever on a significantly larger offering than 2015.

This strong competition from the 43 registered buyers saw the stud have its biggest sale ever and helped it set new stud records for its annual on-property sale with the average, gross and top price figure all eclipsing previous marks.

All up the stud offered and sold 191 rams under the hammer for the red hot average of $1911, which was up a stunning $300 on last year's average of $1611 (which was the previous best for the stud) when it achieved a complete clearance of 160 rams with 37 of the 43 buyers driving away with rams.

In the breakdown the stud offered and sold 152 Poll Merinos to a top of $11,200 and an average of $1948 (up $342 on 2015) and the 39 Merinos offered and sold averaged $1779 (up $148) and topped at $3600.

Elders auctioneer Nathan King said it was a terrific result for the Patterson family.

"The result of the sale speaks volumes for the quality of the rams the Pattersons are producing and the investments they are making in their breeding program," Mr King said.

"The Polls sold extremely well to stronger competition compared to the Merinos and the Pattersons increased their numbers this year to meet the demand of their commercial producers and they all sold.

"The sale result like most sales this year is certainly a reflection of where the industry is with wool prices and surplus sheep sales, which include producers receiving between $120-$160 bare shorn for cull hoggets."

Stud co-principal Eric Patterson said the family was over the moon with the result.

"We put an extra 31 rams in after last year's record sale to give buyers more opportunities and keep a lid on prices but the sale still went up," Mr Patterson said.

"We can't believe it, this was totally unexpected and we were prepared to pass-in a few rams with the extra numbers.

"Even though the sale was extremely strong, we are pleased to see there were still a number of rams that made between $600-$800 and this allowed clients to operate at their respective budgets."

The evenness and overall quality of the Woolkabin team was evident as the sale progressed, with spirited bidding duels throughout.

The most animated and spirited of these duels was certainly in the first run of March shorn Poll Merino rams.

As a result the first 16 March shorn Poll rams averaged $4500, up $1500 on the average of the first 16 last year and five sold for $5000 or more.

Creating the most attention in this run and the ram which was obviously ticked in many catalogues was an upstanding, stylish-woolled ram in lot two.

Bidding started at $3000 on the long-bodied, well-covered ram and quickly rose before only three bidders were left.

In the end it was father and son duo Warwick and Nathan Teakle, Walkindyer stud, Northampton, who prevailed and had the successful bid at $11,200.

The 118 kilogram ram had June wool tests of 19.7 micron, 2.9 SD, 14.7 CV and 99.6 per cent comfort factor and scan figures of 44mm eye muscle depth (EMD) and 6mm fat.

For the last six months the AI-bred ram by Moorundie Park Kelvinator had recorded a daily weight gain of 0.31grams/day.

Warwick Teakle said he saw the ram at the Mingenew Expo and it stood out straight away for its size, structure and wool quality.

"We were really impressed by him so we thought we would come down to the sale and have a go at buying him as we were after the Kelvinator bloodline that he carries," Mr Teakle said.

"He is an upstanding ram, with a good structure and good topline.

"He stands up nice and square as well.

"His wool is also impressive, its free-growing, soft and white."

The Teakles will use the ram in the stud in an AI program over Glenville blood ewes and naturally this season.

Losing bidder on the top-priced ram was Elders stud stock representative and new Woolkabin classer Kevin Broad, who was bidding on behalf of the Sunny Valley stud, Williams.

The second top price in the sale was $5400 (twice) and it was also achieved in the first 16 Poll sires.

Hitting the $5400 mark first was another long-bodied Kelvinator son in lot one when it was knocked down to return buyer Stuart Turpin, Julstroy Farms, Lake King.

Mr Turpin said the ram stood out for its size and wool cutting ability.

"He fits what we are trying to achieve - he is a big-framed ram with a stylish wool," Mr Turpin said.

The ram weighed in at 112kg with scans of 46mm EMD and 7mm fat along with June wool figures of 20.4 micron, 3.0 SD, 14.7 CV and 99.7pc CF.

But Mr Turpin didn't stop here with his bidding, he was very active throughout the sale as he chased he big framed, heavy cutting rams and by sale's end he had secured 15 Poll sires at an average of $2633.

His purchases also included a ram at $3500 and two at $3200.

The second ram to hit $5400 was a heavy cutter in lot four and it was secured by Hugh Warden, who was buying on behalf of long time Woolkabin client Darren Howatson, Howatson Family Trust, Newdegate, who couldn't make the sale as he was in Italy for his wedding and honeymoon.

Mr Warden said they picked lot four out for its figures, big frame and bulky fleece.

The 120kg ram had June wool tests of 21.9 micron, 3.1 SD, 14.2 CV and 99.2pc CF and scan figures of 48 EMD and 7mm fat.

Mr Warden was busy during the sale buying for the Howatsons and finished the day with a team of 12 Polls for the operation at an average of $3050

He also bid to $4800 for an 111kg, 21.4 micron ram and $4400 for a 123kg, 22 micron sire.

The final two Polls to sell for $5000 or more were secured by Jeff and Andrew Kowald, JA & O Kowald, Casuarinas via Mullewa.

They bid to $5300 for a 130kg, 17.7 micron sire and $5000 for a 119kg and 17 micron ram.

Taking three Polls to a top of $3800 and an average of $3033 was Darkan producers FE & BJ Lloyd.

Others not afraid to bid up on the Poll offering was regular client Colin Guest, Chidnup Farm, Ravensthorpe, who purchased nine sires to a top of $3200 and an average of $2411, while fellow return buyer Nick Spark, D & MA Spark & Co, Mukinbudin, averaged $2500 over four and Pendlebury Farms, Kojonup, secured seven for a $1429 average.

Return buyer of 10 years Shane Edmonds, LB Edmonds & Co, Jerramungup, was a volume buyer of Poll rams securing 13 to a top of $2400 (twice) and an average of $1992, while TR & JK Ettridge, Frankland, averaged $1510 across a team of 10 which topped at $2500.

In the Merino offering prices peaked at $3600 for first March shorn Merino sire offered.

After some quick fire bidding the ram was knocked down to return buyers Des and Wayne Shackley, DF Shackley & Co, Woodanilling, who will use the ram in a nucleus flock to breed rams to use among the 3000 ewes they mate to Merinos.

Des Shackley said they liked the size, structure and wool quality of the ram.

The deep, long-bodied ram weighed in at 121kg and had scans of 45mm EMD and 8mm fat along with June wool figures of 20.5 micron, 3.0 SD, 14.6 CV and 99.8pc CF.

Return buyers JC & ME Wasley, Mingenew, also bid up strongly in the Merino run purchasing three sires at an average of $2700.

Their selections included the $3500 second top-priced Merino which weighed 126kg and with wool figures of 19.2 micron, 3.2 SD and 99.7pc CF.

Matching the Wasleys on many of the top rams and averaging $2360 for a team of five was DC & EA Wellard, Gnowanerup, while return buyers Hunt Partners, Coorow, averaged $1688 across a team of eight.

A number of buyers purchased from both the Poll Merino and Merino runs and those who held their bidding cards high on numerous occasions were Nullawil Traders, Woodanilling, which secured three Polls and seven Merinos at an average of $1800; Girrawheen Investments, Katanning, averaged $1989 over a team of six Polls and three Merinos and LA King & Co, Tambellup, purchased three Polls and three Merinos for a $1700 average.